TechLow pressure at the shower is one of the most common complaints we hear from homes in Tirupur. A pressure booster pump fixes it, but only if it is sized correctly. A pump that is too small will not help. A pump that is too big wastes power and makes pipes rattle. Here is how to get it right.
1. Count your outlets and bathrooms
Each outlet needs a certain flow. As a rough guide, a shower uses 9 to 12 litres per minute, a wash basin or kitchen tap about 6, and a toilet cistern about 6 while filling. Not everything runs at once, so for homes we usually plan for one or two showers plus a tap or two running together.
- 1 to 2 bathrooms: about 20 to 25 litres per minute (1.2 to 1.5 m³/h)
- 3 to 4 bathrooms: about 30 to 40 litres per minute (1.8 to 2.4 m³/h)
- 5 to 6 bathrooms: about 45 to 60 litres per minute (2.7 to 3.6 m³/h)
2. Work out the head you need
Head is the pressure the pump must create, measured in metres of water. Add three things:
- Height from the pump to the highest outlet, about 3 metres per floor.
- Pressure at the outlet for a good shower: around 1.5 bar, which is about 15 metres.
- Pipe losses from bends, valves and pipe length: add 10 to 20 percent.
3. A worked example
A two-floor house with three bathrooms. The top-floor shower is about 7 metres above the pump. So: 7 m + 15 m + about 3 m of losses = 25 m head, at about 2 m³/h.
Looking at the performance table of the Watello Pressure Pump with Tank, the 1.0 HP model gives about 32 metres at 2.6 m³/h and 37 metres at 1.6 m³/h. That covers this house comfortably. The 0.5 HP model would fall short on the top floor.
4. Choose the tank size
The pressure tank stores a small amount of water under pressure. It lets the pump stay off for small uses like a hand wash, so it starts and stops less often. That means longer pump life and steadier pressure. Our pumps come with 24, 60 or 100 litre tanks. 24 litres suits small homes, 60 litres suits most 3 to 4 bathroom homes, and 100 litres suits bigger homes or small buildings.
5. Check the supply side
- The booster should draw from a tank or sump, never directly from the municipal line.
- Fit a non-return valve and isolation valves so the pump can be serviced.
- Use pipes of at least ¾ inch on the main line. Narrow pipes waste the pressure you are paying for.
Not sure about your numbers? Send us the number of floors, bathrooms and a photo of your tank and pipes. We will suggest the right pressure pump from Watello, CRI, Lubi or Grundfos.
